The Sacrament of Confession

 

The ministry of reconciliation, which has been committed by Christ to his Church, is exercised through the care each Christian has for others, through the common prayer of Christians assembled for public worship, and through the priesthood of the Church and its ministers declaring absolution (The Book of Common Prayer, pg. 446).

 James 5:13-16

Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. 

While this scripture further communicates the importance of communal forgiveness, it also shows that there are specific instances in the lives of believers where certain kinds of grace are necessary, mediated by presbyters (priests) of the church. Sometimes, we must confess our sins to others to better receive and understand the absolute forgiveness that Jesus has accomplished on our behalf. We must embrace that there are times when our struggle with sin is making us sick - spiritually, emotionally, and even physically- and we need the healing and forgiving touch of the Savior through those gifted and called to represent the Lord Jesus Christ in more Spirit-empowered ways.

However, true absolution from sin and its grip on our daily lives is only given to us if we sincerely desire to turn from our own ways and change our behavior, thoughts, and actions. As we are reminded from the Prayer Book in Holy Eucharist I:

Ye who do truly and earnestly repent you of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbors, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from henceforth in his holy ways: Draw near with faith, and make your humble confession to Almighty God, devoutly kneeling (BCP, pg. 330).

 Here also the encouragement of the absolution:

 Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who of his great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all those who with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto him, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 332)

For those who are attenders/members at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, I would encourage you to take advantage of the rite of reconciliation as you humbly seek you God, reassured that He loves you and longs to forgive you. Also, as the Prayer Book reminds us, these times of personal confession with a priest are matters of privacy and trust.

 The content of a confession is not normally a matter of subsequent discussion. The secrecy of a confession is morally absolute for the confessor, and must under no circumstances be broken (BCP, pg. 446).

 Let us prepare our hearts to be a people of humble repentance and joy unexpressible because of our Easter hope in the resurrection of the Christ.